Hatch cover construction



' y A. R. CAMPBELL 2,379,623

' HATCH COVER CONSTRUCTION Filed June 29, 1942 4 Sheets-$119M, 1

INVENTOR. fl/v/n 2. Campbell ATTORNEY.

July 3, 1945. CAMPBELL 2,379,623

HATCH COVER CONSTRUCTION Filed June 29, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY July 3, 1945. A. R. CAMPBELL HATCH COVER CONSTRUCTION Filed June 29, 1942 4 SheetsSheet 3 INVENTOR.

fi/wn A. Campbell BY M ATTORNEY.

y 3, 1945- A. R. CAMPBELL HATCH COVER CONSTRUCTION Filed June 29, 1942 4' Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR. fl/vj/n E. (am we BY .m/

' ATTORNEY.-

Patented July 3, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HA'TCH COVER CONSTRUCTION Alvin R. Campbell, San Mateo, Calif. Application June 29, 1942, Serial No. 448,981 5 Claims. ('01. 114403) My invention relates to a hatch cover construction particularly adapted for the closing of hatch openings on ships.

Cargo carrying ships generally have a top'deck known as the weather deck, and a pluarality of spaced cargo carrying decks belowthe weather deck, generally designated as tween decks. In order to provide for unloading or loading of the ship, the decks are formed with vertically alined hatch openings through which the cargo is raised or lowered by meansof a power operated cable on the ship. After a deck has been properly loaded, it has heretofore been the general custom to close the hatch opening by means of beams placed acrossthe opening and covered with planks or any other suitable cover members. Closing of a hatch in this "manner, and also opening of a hatch thus closed; necessitates considerable time and labor and is, consequently, undesirable.

My invention is designed to overcome the objections to the old form of hatch covering, and has as its objects among others, the provision of an improved hatch cover which: may be quickly opened or closed by power; is adaptedto support a load in the closed position thereof; willinot; when open, interfere with loading or unloading of cargo through the hatch opening, and will be out of the way of cargo onthe deck adjacent the hatch opening; is automaticallylatched whenopened'so that there will be no danger to seamen which might otherwise occur if the 'cover could fall; may be readily automatically 'unlatched when a force is applied by the proper means for closing such cover; and

is of simple and economical construction. Other objects of "my invention will become apparent from a perusal of the following description thereof.

Referring to the drawings: c Fig. "1*"is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view through alinedhatch openings in illustrating the cover construction of my invention; a more or less conventional form ofwinichin a plane inin the plane of the left-hand hatch cover construction'am' a weather deck and a tween deck ofa ship,

link members It is rigidly secured pearing in Fig. 1; the cover members bein illustrated partially open and the closed position of such cover members being indicated by phantom lines.

, Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig.4, illustrating the cover members in open and automatically latched position.

Fig. dis a horiontal section taken in a plane indicated by line 6-6 in Fig.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the right-hand cover member appearing'in Fig. 1, illustrating such cover member in partially open position;" the plane of the section being indicated by line 1-1 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a'view similar to Fig. 7, illustrating. the cover member in open and automatically latched position.

Fig: 9 is a horiontal section taken in a plane indicated by line 9- 9 in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a-horiontal section taken in indicated by line Ill-l0 in-Fig. 8. Most hatch openings 2fin a tween deck '3 are generally so wide that if only two cover members or sections-were employed, each one hingedly connected adjacent a side edge of a hatch open-. ing, they could not be fully opened without striking the next upperdeck because of the customary close spacing between such decks. Therefore, the preferred hatch cover construc tion of my invention comprises three hatch cover members or sections. Anintermediate cover member 4 is hingedly or pivotally connected by suitable hinge connections 6 to one edge of a side cover member I, the opposite edge of whichis hingedly or pivotally connected by hinge connections 8 todeck 3 adjacent hatch a plane opening 2, at the left edge of such'opening with reference to Fig. *1. The such that cover members each other with. their under sides 9 adjacent each other. The third cover member II is hingedly or pivotally connected by suitable hinge connections |2 to deck 3 adjacent the opposite edgeof hatch opening 2. c 7

Hinge connections 8 and I2 are preferably such I as to support side cover members 1 and I l in selfsupporting cantilever fashion when they are closed. For this purpose, a pluralityof spaced to an projected from the outside edges of cover members 1 and l I, so as to extend over the edges of deck 7 3 adjacent the side edges of hatch opening 2; and such link members I3 arepivotally connected'in brackets l4 spaced along the top of deckiiv ad jacent the side edges of opening 2. Thus, when hinge connections Gare l 4 and 1 can fold toward cover member 1 and II are closed, they will be held in a self-supporting horizontal position by virtue of link members I3. In this connection, it is to be noted that the adjacent edges I5 of cover members 4 and I I, and 4 and I, which are adapted to meet when the cover members are closed, are inclined in planes converging downwardly toward each other, so that in the closed position of the cover members, intermediate cover member 4 is supported in keystone fashion thus forming a selfsuppcrting arch-type structure for the entire cover assembly. As a safety support for intermediate cover member 4 in closed position, in case vibration of the ship should jar the cover members, a plurality of spaced outwardly projecting brackets or lugs I6 is preferably rigidly secured to the inner edge of the right-hand cover member II appearing in Fig. l; the. inner. edge of intermediate cover member 4 being adapted to rest on such lugs.

It; will be noted from Figs. 2 and 3- that the alined; outer transverse edges H of the cover membersai'e adapted to overlie a transverse edge portion I8 of the deck adjacent the hatch openingyfor the purpose of sealing such opening. As

isindicated in Figs. 2 and 3, Iqpreferably provide a plurality of units of the described hatch cover construction; spaced longitudinally along the hatch opening, instead of covering the entire hatchvopening by one of such described units, as this lessens, the weight of the, individual cover members thus facilitating opening or closing thereof. I

Means is. provided for reenforcing the cover members. As can be observed more clearly from Figs. 1 and 3, a plurality of spaced beams I9 is rigidly secured to the under side of cover member- I. Suchwbeams are arranged in pairs to provide spaces 2I between eachpair so as to receive spaced reenforcingbeams 22 secured to the under side of intermediate cover member 4. Thus, the arrangement-of beams I9 and 22 is such that Whencover members 4 and I are folded against each-v other in the manner indicated by Fig. 5, interferenceto the folding is avoided. Spaced reenjforcing bearns23 are alsorigidly secured to the-under side of cover member I I. The customarywinch-operated cable usually on;-thle; weiather deck of a ship may be conveniently utilized; for opening and closing the cover members of my hatch cover construction. Such cable 24 has a hook 26 secured to an intermediate portion thereof. One end portion 21 of. he cable atone side of hook 26 passes around suitable pulleys 28 supported on boom 29, to power a operated winch drum 3|. The opposite end porcent: of the cable at the opposite side of book zspasses around similar pulleys 33 supported on boornfil to another power operated winch drum 36.. Winch drums 3] and 36. may be independently manipulated or manipulated together, in the same or opposite directions. As a result, tliecable hook 26 may be readily moved by the winch man laterally in either direction, vertically upwardly or downwardly, or with a combined upward or downward and lateral movement in either direction.

Such movements that may be imparted to cable hook, 26. enable facile opening or closing of the cover members. .For this purpose, intermediate cover, member 4 isprovided on its upper side with pivotany mounted ye 31 which is cated betweehth longitudinal center line of such cover member andhinge' connections 6, or in other words between the center of gravity of cover mom.-

her 4 and hinge connections 6. As a result, when cable hook 26 is engaged in eye 31 and moved with a combined upward and lateral movement to the left, with reference to Fig. 1. both cover members 4 and I will be lifted together at first; and as such combined movement is continued, intermediate cover member 4 will fold toward the under side of side cover member I until both of such cover members assume the upright position illustrated by Fig. 5. When fully open, cover members 4 and I may be unfolded away from each other and closed by a reverse movement imparted to hook 26. In this connection, eye 31 is supported in a suitable recess 38 in the top side of cover member 4, so as to be out of the way when not engaged by hook 25.

In opening the hatch covers, the hingedly connected cover members 4 and I should be opened first because of thesupport of cover member 4 on cover member II; and after opening of cover members A and I, cover member I I may be opened by swinging it about its hinge connection. For this purpose, a cable 39 is connected at its outer end to the under side of cover member II. An eye 41- is attached to the inner end of such cable, and is adapted to be engaged by book 25. When hook 715 is moved upwardly, as well as laterally to the right with reference to Fig. 1, cable 39 will engage. the under side of cover member II. which results in such cover member being lifted about its hinge connections I2.

With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it is to be noted that eyes 31 and 4| are located closely adjacent the transverse edge I8 of the deck adjacent hatch opening 2, to enable seamen to engage hook '26 in such eyes without having to reach far over the hatch opening. This avoids thepossibility of seamen falling through the hatch opening.

Automatically operable latching means is provided for holding cover members 4 and 1 in an upright position when they are opened. Such automatic latching is to preclude accidental falling of the cover members which, if occurring, might result in injury to seamen. Holding of the covers in an upright position conserves deck space for loading of cargo thereon,'whichwould not. obtain if the covers,.when opened, were to rest. on the deck. The automatic latching. means in-- cludes means to enable it to be automatically re-= leasable when-a force is applied to close the cover members over thehatch opening. With partied-- lar reference to Figs. 4,- 5 and 6, the latching means comprises a plurality of cooperating links 42 and 43. One end of link 42 is pivotally connected at 44'to deck 3 adjacentopening 2; while an end of link 43 is-pivotally connected. by'a pin 46 in a bracket 41 secured to the under side of cover member 4. The adjacent ends of such links 42 and 43 are slidably connected to the. under side of cover memberl by means of. pins 48 slidably mounted in elongated slots'49 formed in a pair of spaced brackets'SI- secured to the under side of cover member I.

The limit of lifting of the cover member: I is determined by engagement of pin 48 in link 42, against the lower edge of slotimeans 49; the arrangement being such that cover member I and cover member 4, when lying againstcover member I, will be inclined slightly beyond the. lefthand edge of hatchopening 2. Such inclination precludes obstruction of the hatch opening to enable a cargo to be swung freely 'throughit. When the cover membersfi'and I are fully opened, the: pivotal connection 46* between link. 43: and bracket. 41 is' beyond dead center with reference? to center line C between the pivot axis of'hinge connection 6 andpin 48 inlink 43, as is illustratedbyFig.5.- 1

In such position,-the adjacent ends of links. and 43 are in substantially abutting relationship; a lug'52 being formed on the outer end of link 43 to abut the adjacent end of link 42. As a result, a lateral force applied to the upper sideof cover member I will only cause links 42 and 43 to engage each other without effecting movement of pivot 46. Hence,'cover members 4' and I'will be latched together in the position shown in Fig. 5. Unlatching can only occur when cover member 4 is lifted about hinge connection 6, which'is the normal action which will obtain when hook 26 is engaged in eye 31 to unfold cover members 4 and I for effecting closing thereof. This is so because'as soon as cover member 4 is swung about hinge connection 6, link 43wil1 be raised to allow movement of link 42; so that cover member I may swing downwardly.

Automatically operable latching means is also provided for holding cover member 1! in an upright position with a slight inclination beyond the edge of hatch opening 2 when it is opened, as is indicated by Fig. 8; and such latching means also includes means rendering itautomatically releasable when a force is applied to close cover member II over the hatch opening. With reference to Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10,-such latching means comprises a pair of cooperating spaced links 6! pivotally connected at 62 adjacent one end there-' brackets as; am; 'a'st'op pin as being provided to limit tilting movementof lever member 83to wardthe inner edge of cover member II. "At its free'end, lever member 83 is formed with a'ihook recess 12," and engage such latch portion '16.

Such action in cooperation with engagement of 7 pin 63 under lip I3 will maintain cover member II positively latchedin the position shown by Fig. 8. This is so because any lateral thrust against the outside of cover member I I will cause bell'crank I1 and latch member 68 to become more tightly engaged. When leg I9 of the bell crank enters recess I2, Z-shaped lever member 83 will pivot in a clockwise direction about pivot 84,

' and assume the position shown in Fig. 8. v

' lateral movement'of hook 26 to the left with ref- To close covermember .II after it is opened, a seaman needonly engage cable 39 in hook 81 on lever-member 83, andc-onnect hook 26 in eye 4| connected to the end of cable 39'; Upon initial erence to Fig. 8, lever member 83 willbe' caused to move in a counter-clockwise directionabbut pivot 84, and thus effect release of the latching mechanism; and upon continued'lateral movement combined with loweringof-hook 26, the cover will fall, but will be supported on cable 39 as it is being lowered. Thus, the described latch ing mechanism forcovrmember is such that at anouterside of an associated bracket '66. The

limit of opening of cover m'emberl fis'determined by engagement of pin-'63 against'the lower edges of slots 64. cated in the space between brackets 66 is" a latching member 68 adapted to swing about pivot 61,

' between an outer stop pin 69 and an inner stop pin II spaced from stop pin 69'." Latching member 68 isformed with a recess I2 in which pin 63 is'adapted to engage, andwith a lip I3 over the recess for a purpose to be subsequently explained.

The weight distribution of latching member 68 on pivot 61 is such as to cause its end I4 oppo-' site recess I2, to swing downwardly'whencover,

member I I is closed'or in partially open position.

However, when such cover member is'raised, pin

63 will move down slot means 64, and, recess .12 in latching member 68 will be in the pathof pin 63 to receive it. As cover member I I approaches its maximum position of lift, as is indicated by Pivotally connected at 6I and 10- Fig. 8, pin 63 will enter recess I2 and tilt latching member 68 upwardly about pivot 61; stop 69 serving to limit upward tilting movement of the latching member at the maximum position of lift of cover member II. In this position, lip 13 will engage over pin 63; and releasable dogging mechanism is provided for automatically engaging a portion I6 of latching member 68, below recess 12, and thus hold cover member I'I positively in turn is pivotally connected at its Opp site end I to a Z-shaped lever 83 pivoted to and between a proper fofrceapplied for closing it, automatically releases the latch. In th'e'cIOsed'poSitiOn of'cover member II, hook 81 servesasasllpport for 'c'able 39 'so as to render its eye 41 readily acessible to a seamanwhenit'is desired toop'en thecover member. In' this connection, should cable '39 move out of the line of hook 81 during lifting of cover member II,' this will makeno difie're'nce becausethe seamancanv'ery' readily insertit in hook 81 when 'it is desired to'clo's'e the cdvermember; i I prefer to employthe automatically latchable and releasable latching mechanism'for the cover members on the tween "deck hatch because of "the desirability of maintaining such cover members in the described upright position. I-Ioweventhe described'cover construction may be employed without such latching mechanism if" so desired". This is preferred Withre'spe'ct'td the cover construction 9| on weather deck 92, because in unloading a ship, thejcargo mustb'e swung laterally beyond the hatch opening; and if the cover merhhere were held in' an might strike them. v

In-the weather zdeck cover construction,'cover member 93 is of substantially the same construction as the described cover member I I; while cover members 96a'nd 91 are of substantially the same construction-as the described cover members 4 and I, respectively. Should one desire to support thecover'members by removable beams placedacross the hatch opening, the cantilever hinge construction and the reenforcing beams. may be omitted; and ordinary hinge means may.

be employed for connecting the cover members.

Should the space betweendeck be such as to accommodate one or two cover members over the hatch, when swung to an upright position,

upright position, such cargothen the cover constructionacomprising hingedly cormected-cover members 4 and I "need-not be employed; and the hatch opening maybe covered by one cover member, or two l-zcoverl members hingedly connected adjacent the sides .of the hatch opening, asthe circumstances may require. Each of such cover members may :be -.provided with the described latching mechanism employed for holding cover member 3 :inan upright position.

I claim:

l. .A batch cove constructionncomprising :a cover member for overlying a hatch opening in a deck structure, hinge connecting means abet-ween an edge of such member and the :deck structure, another cover member hingedly .connected-lto the'first mentioned cover member adiacent an opposite edge thereof so as to fold against the first mentioned member, and automatically operable latching mechanism including means i movably connected between suoh"mem bersand the deck structure for holding the mornbers in an upright position when they are moved on their hinge :connectionswand folded against each other to uncover the hatch opening, the latching mechanism including means enabling it to be automatically releasable when a force is applied to the. second mentioned cover member to move iton its hinge connection with the first mentioned cover member for closing the-hatch opening.

.2. A hatch cover construction comprising a cover member for overlying a hatch opening in a deck structure; hinge connecting means 5b9- tween an edge of such member and the deck structure another cover member; means hingedly connecting the latter memberto the first mentioned member adjacent -an-.opposite edge thereof so as to fold against the firstmentioned member with its under side adjacent the under side of such first mentioned member; and -=aut.omatically operable latching mechanism for :holding .the members in an upright position when theyare moved 1011 their hinge connections and folded against each other touncover the hatch opening including a plurality of; links :havi-ng ad- Jacent ends slidably connected to the first :men tioned member at the under side ;thereof,-.;one .of such-links being movably connected to the-deck structure and another .ofsuch :links "being movabl-y connected to the [other coyermem-ber at .the under side thereof. 4

:3. A batch cover construction comprising a cover member for overlying a hatch openin in a .deck structure; such member itO the .deck structure; and latching mechanism connected to the, cover member at the under side thereof tor automatically hold;- ing it in an up ht position when it .is lifted including a'link movably connected to the deck structure adjacent one end thereof and slidably connected adjacent its opposite endto the cover member at the under side thereof, and dog :and latch means connected to the cover member at the underside thereof for automaticail'ly holding the link in said upright position lof'the cover member, such :dog and latch'means having means enabling it to be automatically releasable by -a force-applied thereto for loweringkofthe cover member from its upright position, 4

means :hi-ngedly connecting agar-acne sL'A hatch cover construction comprising a cover member for overlying a hatch opening in a deck structure, means hingedly connecting such member to the deck structure adjacent an edge of the hatch opening and'providing a cantilever support therefor, another cover member for overlying the hatch. opening, means hingedly connecting the latter cover member to the dec structure adjacent an opposite edge of the hatch opening and providing a cantilever support therefor, an additional cover member hingedly connected adjacent an edge thereof to the free edge of one of the first mentioned cover members so as to foldagainst such one member with its under side adjacent the under side of such one member, the edges of such .cover members which are adapted :to meet when the cover members are closed being inclined .to provide a key.- stone support for the additional cover member and to cooperate with the other cantilever supported cover members to provide a self-supporti-ng arch-type structure for the entire cover assembly, and'meanslon the upper side of the additional cover member adapted tor connection to lifting means and which is located between the center of gravity of such cover member and its hinge connection so as to enable it and the cover member to which it is hingedly connected to fold toward each other during lifting of such members and to unfold away from each other during lowering of such members.

. member to the deck structure adjacent an edge of the hatch opening and providing a cantilever support therefor, another cover member for overlying the hatch opening, means hingedly connecting the latter cover member :to the deck structure adjacent an opposite edge of the hatch opening and providing a cantilever support therefor, an additional cover member hingedly connected adjacent an .edge thereof to the free edge of one of the first mentioned cover members so as to fold against such one member with its under side adjacent the under side .of such one member, the edges of :such cover members which are adapted to meet when the cover members are closed "being inclined to provide a keystone support for the additional cover member and tocooperate with the other cantilever supported cover members to provide @a self-supporting archetype structure for "the entire cover assembly, automatically operable latching means for holding thehingedly connected cover members ,in upright position when they are moved on their hinge connections "to-uncover the hatch opening, automatically operable latching means for holding the remaining cover member in upright position when -it ismoved on its hinge connectionto uncover the hatch opening. and means on the up- .per side of the additional cover member adapted for connection to li-itingmeans and which is located between the center of gravity .of such cover member and its hinge connection so as to enable it and the cover @memberto which it is hingedly connected to fold toward each other during lifting of such membersand to unfold away from each other during lowering of such members. ALVIN R. CAMPBELL. 

